Need help on scarf joint headstock thinning and tuners

Hello,

I'm new to CBN and on my first cbg build. I'm trying to build a 3 string cbg using a scarf joint with poplar 1x2 stock. I originally was going to have a longer headstock but do to trial and error with scarfing, I'm down to about 2 7/8" left of headstock. Ooops! The scarf angle is not much I think about 12 degrees. I am not sure how to thin the headstock down to fit the tuners. Should this be a tapered cut? Should the cut come off the back or the front? Where does the cut stop relative to the neck? How much distance needs to be between the first tuner and the nut? Here's a pic of what I'm working with. Any help and suggestions is greatly appreciated! Thanks.

headstock on my 1st cbg.PNG

Replies

Dee Ann March 19, 2017 at 1:26pm

Thankk you, Fred.
Uncle Fred March 19, 2017 at 1:21pm

Dee,

I have access to an electric planer and plane a long piece of 3/4"x1.5" head material to 5/8" thick. This could be done with a table saw and fence or a band saw and fence. A 6' piece will produce a lot of head pieces.

I get neck material length long enough for two necks and cut the neck/head angle in the middle. This gives me two necks with one head angle cut. Then I cut two heads from the planed piece in a similar fashion. I align the head and neck joint for gluing so the overlapping material is the same 5/8" thick as the head. I end up with two neck/heads for the cutting of one and very little hand work.

If I'm careful laying out the tuners, the top joint between the neck and head can be mostly hidden by the tuner[s].

Safe working.

Fred
Wade March 18, 2017 at 7:06pm

More than one way to skin a cat - another option would be to cut a slot through the center of your headstockand mount your tuners on the side. The advantage is you do not have to remove any thickness to your headstock!
- Dee Ann > Wade March 18, 2017 at 11:53pm
  
  Very nice!! Love that tin and the slotted headstock. Yes, I see one in my future. Thanks for sharing.
Ron "Oily" Sprague March 18, 2017 at 5:11pm

Next time you do a scarf, try flipping it over so the cutoff piece is above, rather than beneath, the scarf. When you install a fretboard, you can overlay it across the joint, further strengthening it. Or scarf not at all, and do a cut-down flat Fender style headstock.

Another thing to do would be cutting your scarf a lot further along the neck, so that you end up with a longer headstock. Remember, you can almost always start over.
- Dee Ann > Ron "Oily" Sprague March 18, 2017 at 6:09pm
  
  Thanks Ron. I actually started with 6" of extra headstock. A couple of scarf joints later....I was down to 2 7/8" for the head. Great learning curve! :) I'm skeptical of the scarf joint holding up to string pressure when the piece is on top. I'm using Elmer's Wood Glue...sandable and stainable. It's not the Titebond I was going to get. I hope this stuff holds. Thanks for your reply.
  - Ron "Oily" Sprague > Dee Ann March 19, 2017 at 3:14pm
    
    The joint will hold, especially if you overlay a fingerboard. A large number of commercial gits are done exactly this way.
David McQueen March 18, 2017 at 2:41pm

The veneer Chickenbone John refers to is not just cosmetic. It will actually add strength to the headstock. Generally I use a 1/8" thick piece and then either run it through my little joiner or sand it.
- Dee Ann > David McQueen March 18, 2017 at 6:05pm
  
  I have some Cherry veneer, but it really is very thin veneer. If I had a joiner, I might consider the thicker stuff. What kind of joiner do you have? I might need one. (Haha) Hubby bought me a combo belt/disc sander, but I'm not good with it yet and have created additional problems for myself. :) I have lots of machine tools to work with, but I'm enjoying the hand tools. Thanks for your reply.
  - David McQueen > Dee Ann March 18, 2017 at 6:47pm
    
    Dee Ann, cut your headstock to depth. Then make yourself a sanding board. Glue sandpaper on a small piece of plywood or chipboard. Smooth the cut on the sanding board and apply the veneer. Even a thin veneer is strengthening.

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